Are you or someone you know feeling stuck in the world of dating today? Do you believe all of this swiping, messaging, and attending events today typically results in…nothing to write home about? You wouldn’t be alone there.

The truth is, dating in 2025 looks very different from how it did in the past—and not just because of technology. While we’ve seen huge advances in matchmaking tools, social apps, and online platforms, there's one key element that many singles are missing in today’s world: community.

In the past, singles found potential matches through naturally occurring opportunities—whether through family, friends, or events in their local neighborhoods. It was simple: you were exposed to a variety of people, and dating was a natural extension of those relationships. If you liked someone, you had the chance to see them repeatedly, get to know them, and develop a deeper connection over time.

But today, many of us are living in a very different reality. We’re isolated. We're working remotely. We’re far from our families and friends. We're caught up in our busy, individual lives. The result? Fewer opportunities to meet new people in organic ways. And, unfortunately, those one-off chance encounters that used to spark new connections are becoming rarer and rarer.

Here’s the thing: dating shouldn’t be about waiting for a magical, serendipitous moment. No one’s life is the set of a romantic comedy! Dating successfully is about building a community—one where you can repeatedly meet, interact with, and connect with like-minded people. That’s how relationships grow: from repeated exposure and shared experiences.

This past weekend, I took my daughter to her first book signing! We came out to support my fellow matchmaking colleague, author, mama, and Jersey Girl, Maria Avgitidis, on the publication of her first book, Ask A Matchmaker!  After hearing Maria read an excerpt  at Barnes & Noble in Bridgewater, I can confidently say this book is not just another “find your person” pep talk filled with recycled advice.


This one hits different — in the best way. And one of the reasons it does? Because it incorporates this very idea of singles needing to build a community to find their match! I was glad to read the book and see that Maria emphasizes the importance of cultivating an environment where connections can be made over time—whether that’s through local groups, hobbies, clubs, or even by joining a sports league. I truly believe the key is to step outside of your own bubble and engage with people consistently. 

Community doesn’t have to mean huge social gatherings or constant events, either. Whew. That'd be exhausting! It can be as simple as finding a group that shares your interests, whether that’s through an online forum like the Facebook group “East Coast Solo Moms Looking For High Caliber Men" -that I created last year- or a regular in-person gathering. The goal is to get out of your individual routine and into spaces where new people—and potential matches—are part of the landscape.

So, how can you start building community today to match yourself or help match singles you know? The possibilities are endless, but here are a few ideas to get you started:

Explore local interest groups: Whether it’s a hiking group, a book club, or a cooking class, joining a group that aligns with your passions can help you meet people naturally.

Attend social events more frequently: Even if you’re not in the mood, say yes to parties, meetups, and networking events. You never know when the next great connection will happen, so your motto should be: You get invited, you go! (I think one of my matchmaker friends’ happily-married grandmas lived by that too!)

Volunteer in your community: Not only will you be giving back, but you’ll also meet people who share your values.

Embrace technology differently: Instead of swiping endlessly, focus on joining online communities and virtual events that allow you to engage with people over time.

Dating in 2025 doesn’t need to feel frustrating or like a never-ending cycle of swiping. By building and nurturing a supportive, diverse community around you, you’ll naturally increase your chances of meeting someone who’s a great match for you. And if you don’t? Well, I might know a fab matchmaker and dating coach who could help introduce you to singles from her community!Or help you build your own! Yes, that’s me, and if you are not in the NYC tri-state area that I serve, I can refer you to an esteemed colleague who is.

Remember: The more people you meet, the more likely you are to find the one who clicks.  It’s all about the power of consistent exposure and connection. And who knows? Your next great love story might just begin in a place you least expect.

So go out, get involved, and build your community. If you’d like help, just reach out here. Your love life will thank you for it.

Fun Fact: I've regularly kept journals since age eleven up until I became a solo mom-almost three and a half years ago! I'll get back to that one of these days.
 
May 7th & 8th, 2025
 
​I am at The Manhattan Penthouse with one hundred sixty-something other love industry professionals. Mostly matchmakers plus a few dating coaches and randos sprinkled into the mix. A lot of people are wearing red, and one matchmaker is even wearing a hot pink suit. The room is cold, but the vibes are warm. Also, there are four other matchmakers named Rachel. We are all pictured above. Because, we'll take a photo op when we see it!
 
The Global Love Institute-which seems to be the only real matchmaking school in the world that offers certification- throws this international event. I have been attending these annually for the better part of the last ten years. Last year, I was the emcee! In case you didn't hear about all that jazz, my Uber from NJ was cancelled and I drove to Manhattan in torrential downpours, thunder, and lightening-skipping my overpriced DryBar blowout-to make it on time. 
 
Anyways, it all started with Lisa Clampitt, the founder of the school, and owner of Lisa Clampit Matchmaking--a company I was once the Director of Matchmaking for. Very boutique matchmaking to an upscale NYC clientele--some of my funnest times!
 
Lisa had asked me to co-create the Online Certification Program for Matchmakers a decade ago, and I did just that. I recorded twelve weeks of modules on all the important content and have been hosting weekly Q&A calls on Zoom with aspiring matchmakers from all over the world ever since. In many of my classes, I like to give real-day-in-the-life-of-a-matchmaker examples for my students. That's the stuff that resonates most.
 
Even after twenty years in the matchmaking industry, I’m a big believer in the power of networking and staying on top of trends and best practices. And, so I attend. A mindset of lifelong learning is essential to delivering real results for clients--no matter what your profession. It feels nostalgic to keep doing it all in the same room with the same people and that same, incredible view of the city.
 
This year, I gave back by running a workshop on multiple revenue streams for matchmakers—a topic that feels especially timely here in the US. With so many singles seeking support and high-end matchmaking often out of reach, it’s crucial for boutique matchmakers to get creative: from digital products and events to partnerships and more. That’s what I’m focused on at Rachel Russo Relationships, and I’m sharing it with others too!
 
If you’re a matchmaker looking to diversify your income—or a single who wants personalized support without spending a fortune—feel free to reach out at [email protected]. I’m here to help. That’s why I got into this business to begin with! 
 
Hanging out with a bunch of colleagues who also like to take photos with their fingers shaped into hearts---that's just a bonus!

I’ve said it before, but we are now in some interesting, interesting times.  In the season where it feels for many like only the strong will survive and thrive, I believe we have to all ask ourselves:

Do I like the person that I am becoming?

I think we must take stock of how we are doing in some of the most important areas like health (which includes the mental & physical), money (which includes saving, spending, investing, and overall satisfaction with career and income sources) and love (whether it be self-love or our relationships with our children, family, friends, and romantic partners).

And if we don’t like what we see, we should use all the tools we have, all technology available, all resources out there, and connect with all who can help to make a change.

One of my top priorities is maintaining optimal health as I can so I can enjoy my life and time with the special people in it. Recently, I joined something really special-Function Health- so I could be in charge of my own (very comprehensive!) bloodwork results over time. The goal is to be more proactive about tracking my biomarkers from hundreds of lab tests so that I have the insights that will keep me healthy and the information that I need from experts about how to make diet and lifestyle modifications. Erasing the need to chase doctors and labs for results is also a major plus!

There are so many important biomarkers I now know all about, but one I couldn’t  help share with my Facebook friends and now you: My biological age —which is fifteen years younger than my chronological age! 

Helllllllo 25.9! ! So pleased to meet you!  (See above for proof!)

If you want to know how I did it, I can tell you I eliminated a lot of things—alcohol, gluten, dairy, toxic cleaners, beauty products, any produce that isn’t organic. I minimized caffeine, sugar, processed foods, and unnecessary stressors. I added a lot too! From supplements to yoga to IV vitamin drips to EMF blockers, there’s so much that can help us “biohack”. (I am just scratching the surface!)

If you want to look into this, I am happy to connect with you about the process. I even have a referral code that I can share with you here. Note: Function will give me a reward  ($100) for every person who signs up that I can use toward my health. I wasn’t asked to be an affiliate marketer; I am just sharing the link here, because it is something that I think will improve lives. And that's what I do!

In that spirit, another thing that I have really embraced is AI! ChatGPT is like my new BFF-but not really-who is enhancing my personal and professional life in so many ways!  Have you gotten into it yet?

Although I pride myself on improving in ways that utilize the (irreplaceable!) human touch, I am not afraid to make improvements for my myself and singles I work with by embracing the power of artificial intelligence. Its touching so many industries--the dating industry is no exception/

You see when someone joins my matchmaking database at Rachel Russo Relationships — they're feeling hopeful, open to love, ready to connect. We get to know each other, I ask some thoughtful questions, and the energy shifts. Sometimes they meet someone through me or sometimes I coach them to meet someone on their own. Or it all happens just... magically. At a coffee shop. Through a friend. On a plane. (Yes, really.)

It’s almost like telling the universe you're serious about love actually works. And if you are really serious about something, you do whatever it takes to make it happen.

So if you are reading this and it hasn’t happened for you yet, just know there are some really out of the box things you can do to manifest your person! If you haven’t heard, I trained an AI Matchmaker!!! Her name is Lara, and she’s the AI Matchmaker for NYC tri state area singles.

If you're in the area, have an iPhone, and are open to something a little out-of-the-box, it’s time to meet Lara. She's not your average dating app bot — she's smart, thoughtful, and will prevent you from wasting time on mismatches. Yes, I do that as a matchmaker too, but I can only help so many people. Considering the limitations of any one human such as myself, I was not opposed to training her on all I have learned as a matchmaker with twenty years of NYC-area matchmaking experience. She’s free to use and will curates matches based on values, lifestyle, and real compatibility.
Hoping that I can help you find your match---in whatever way I can! You can download and check her out here. 

Let’s see what all this matchmaking magic has in store for you. 💘

Let’s be honest—dating in the NYC tri-state area is brutal.

As a matchmaker and dating coach, I regularly have singles telling me they are getting sicker and sicker of dating apps. Many of them would love to hire me- or one of my colleagues- as their matchmaker but can’t afford the price tag on our labor-intensive, boutique services. Considering the cost of living in or near the Big Apple and the current state of the economy, I don’t blame them.  I wish matchmaking were not a luxury service. I’d be thrilled if every database member could get a complimentary introduction, but it just isn’t possible. It is what it is. Fortunately, there is an alternative…..

Enter Lara, the AI matchmaker. I personally trained her to bring real matchmaking expertise to the dating world. No more wasting time on incompatible people. Lara gets NYC dating—the fast-paced life, the high standards, and the fact that living in Brooklyn and dating on Long Island is not for the faint of heart. 

If you are currently single or have single friends in the NYC metro, let me tell you all there is to love about Lara: 

✔️ Trained by an actual matchmaker (me!) with twenty years of matchmaking experience in the NYC area, not some random algorithm
✔️ Curates matches who fit values, lifestyle, and vision for the future (Not just whoever is in the same zip code and wants to avoid the bridges and tunnels) 
✔️ Will save everyone time, money (it’s free!), and emotional energy 

To me, it is a no-brainer to check this out!  Ready to date smarter? Know a friend who needs help upgrading his or her love life?  Sign up for Lara, or pass this on now, and let’s see if this AI matchmaker can work some matchmaking magic! Check her out-free to use and download here. 
https://laradating.onelink.me/0a7n/rachelrusso

Because dating in the NYC tri-state should be fun—not a full-time job.  

Tomorrow marks the beginning of what I affectionately refer to as “Love Month”! 

In true matchmaker fashion, I’d like to kickoff the countdown to Valentine’s Day with mention of one of of my current matchmaking searches for a young, kind, Jewish professional in the NYC tri state area who is looking for his person for marriage and family. 

If you are (or know) a 25-30 year old female interested in being considered for this eligible bachelor, please shoot me an email at [email protected] for a detailed profile with recent photos. If you are making a referral for a single woman that meets my client for a date, I will gladly send you a generous referral commission and my favorite healthy chocolates too! Happy Valentine’s Day to you! 

Meantime, I am excited to announce my newest project. Note: This is happening locally in Montclair, NJ, but I am considering hosting a virtual event as well—since I received messages from several women who are interested. So please let me know if you’d like me to add your name to my list. What’s this buzz all about? 

Drum roll, please! 

I am hosting a monthly gathering designed for single moms at all stages—whether they are single by choice or chance, transitioning into single motherhood, or considering whether to date again or stay solo. Every session will feature a different theme or topic tailored to support the journey.

As many of you know, besides being a matchmaker and dating coach for the last two decades, I have practiced clinically as a Marriage & Family Therapist for singles, couples, and families for over five years.  I have also survived three years-well technically almost four if you count pregnancy-as a solo mom by choice! So, YES! I feel super-qualified to lead this group to help moms with what I have learned and am learning along the way.

Please share this link or pass this on to the single moms you know who may be local to the Montclair, NJ area--or consider joining us yourself. The first event is free! We will have our first event this Tuesday, February 4th at 11am at Creative+! Registration information is here for this event. 

I think all moms need support—especially those who are doing this parenting thing solo! So here's my attempt at creating the modern-day village. 

And as for singles? Well, I no longer believe that all we need is love. But we all do need love. 

So this February, let’s spread the love in whatever way, shape, or form we’d like —from here to the moon and back! 

How’s 2025 going so far?
 
Is it just me, or do you feel like the holidays are finally over and the real work of the new year has begun?

Just wanted to check in-take a little roll call-to see who is still with me at Rachel Russo Relationships and also say hello to any newcomers who may have stumbled upon my website for the first time in this fine new year! 

​Are you on the journey toward finding your person or are you on a hiatus? 

If you want to be considered for introductions to clients-as a member of my confidential database at my boutique matchmaking and dating consultancy-you should create a profile or make sure your profile is up to date with the most recent information about you, your match criteria, and photos.  For assistance with the latter, just email [email protected].

(Hint: Now is the time to upload some of those photos you took over the holidays!) 

No matter where you are in your life-as I tell my clients-It is the journey that counts! Remember, dating is not a race. Finding a true connection takes patience, effort, and self-awareness. This year, let's focus on growth, learning, and setting yourself up for success in love.

At this time, it may be helpful to set a few intentions for the year ahead.  Here are a few I may suggest:

1. Cultivate Self-Love First: Put on your own oxygen mask first, pay yourself first, love yourself first! It’ll help you attract healthier relationships.

2. Be Intentional with Your Dating & Relationship Goals: Figure out what you want and don’t want. The clearer you are about what you want, the easier it will be to identify when you've found it. Vision board: Optional!

3. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity: If you know what you want, you do not need test drive a ton of options. When you find what you are looking for, don't be afraid to put your foot on the gas and go—with the one that is best for you. FOMO is soooo 2024!

4. Embrace Vulnerability: Vulnerability is essential for deep relationships. And it is sexy! 

5. Heal Your Heart: Do not let your “stuff”-including unconscious beliefs about love and destructive patterns stemming from childhood-keep you from the right person. Once you are on the healing path, the quality of all your relationships will be SO MUCH BETTER! 

This year, I’m here to support singles every step of the way through my work at Rachel Russo Relationships.
​
Whether you're looking to improve your dating profile, get professional help dealing with the craziness of dating apps, hone your communication skills, figure out exactly what you want in a match, work through past emotional baggage, or create new opportunities for meeting compatible partners,  I offer coaching that’s tailored to your unique needs and desires. Together, we’ll work to eliminate limiting beliefs, build your confidence, and ensure you're fully prepared to make meaningful connections in 2025. 

If you’d like personalized matchmaking, I can help you come up with a plan, make a referral to one of my colleagues worldwide, or take you on as a matchmaking client at Rachel Russo Relationships. 

​As always, I'll offer Strategy Sessions (priced at $300 USD)  to help you dive deep to determine your best match. I’ll show you how to play up the strengths and minimize the weaknesses you need to find him or her. So please inquire within, as I absolutely love helping people figure out what they want in love-and creating the opportunities they need to find it-during these transformative sessions. You can email [email protected] for more information. 

As we embrace 2025, let this be the year of growth, discovery, and meaningful love.  Wishing you a year filled with love, connection, and fulfillment!

​XoXo, Rachel

Many of us are wondering what is up with single men in America. With just about eighty days until Election Day……

There are a lot of Americans who have realized and continue to realize that many systems in the United States are broken. While I won’t get into a political debate, I am here to say: Yes. They are. And guess what else is broken?

Dating. More specifically, dating to find a compatible partner for a successful relationship or marriage. 

You might disagree, but there are many single people around the country who are finding this to be their experience. Some I know wholeheartedly believe there is a masculinity crisis that is spilling over into the dating space and further contributing to dating being much more complicated than it was for previous generations. They are not wrong.

There are great men out there who would make great partners but need to catch up in the dating game and get their chance at having the relationship, marriage, and/or family they desire. I have been seeing it for almost two decades as a matchmaker and dating coach, but it feels like it is worse than ever. 

Many of these men succeed professionally but suffer in their personal lives. Ain’t Kamala, Trump, or RFK going to save them! Do I have a solution? Perhaps, for some of these guys……

I have wanted to host a men’s seminar for a while, and I am doing it now. This is timely. It is happening in the NYC tri-state area this September 8th—in Nyack, NY at Main Street Coworking. I asked my friend, Jared Sais, a well-recognized Nonverbal Communication Expert, to be my cohost.  We even made postcards that look like this....................


​

Throughout the years that I have known Jared, he has worked some magic with single men in the NYC area who weren’t attracting the type of women they most desired. 

I knew that Jared was the perfect person to bring on board, as I was looking for someone to complement my experience as a female matchmaker and dating coach.  The He Said/She Said format has truly proven to be quite valuable in my work in the love industry. It’s so fun to share our perspectives and do a Q&A where men get to hear from both a man and a woman who “get it". 

Collectively, Jared and I have helped so many guys level up in dating and fully embrace their authentic power in love and life. This is what I think single American men need more of right now!

If you are a single man reading this and it piques your interest, please join us. (I promise it will be worth your while!)  To sign up, you can use the QR code in the flyer or register on Eventbrite—where there is more information about the agenda. (There is a bonus after-event with Jared, too!)

We have spots for just fifteen single guys at Main Street Coworking, so do get on this now if you are looking to transform your confidence, dating, and relationships. Feel free to message me at [email protected] with any questions. 

If you may know a guy-a son, a nephew, a friend, a colleague, a neighbor, even an ex-boyfriend-who may like to attend this special event, feel free pass this on. If they learn something and apply it in their love life, you will be helping men, women, children, and America! (Seriously, though.)  

Thanks for your consideration, and I hope you will help support me in making this a successful event for all!

Happy Thursday! It has been a while since I have written with an update. To say that there has been a lot going on lately with Rachel Russo Relationships-and in my personal life-would be an understatement! 

One significant happening that you may have missed-or might like to learn more about- is that I did “a thing” on my social media platforms last week at this time.

I shared what occurred after I took a bold stand on refusing to do matchmaking for male senior citizens who want to date women twenty+ years younger. (Yes, I was admittedly a bit disturbed by an influx of men in their seventies asking to date women in their thirties and forties!) I had publicly announced that at my boutique matchmaking business, I will no longer work with men who devalue women as they age.

I was then invited on the Dates & Mates podcast-hosted by the well-known relationship expert, Damona Hoffman-to talk about ageism in the current dating culture, and it was a great experience!  You can check out my episode here. 

And since then some more magic has taken place….

On the business side, I attracted two new (awesome!) male clients for dating coaching, and they are open to dating age-appropriate women. Several men and women reshared my posts on LinkedIn and Facebook, and several others reached out to compliment me on being authentic and inspiring. There has also been a considerable increase in attractive, professional women of all ages applying to my database for complimentary introductions to my male clients. If you are single (male or female) and would like me to keep you in mind for introductions, you can do so here.

Personally, I said goodbye to my thirties and celebrated turning forty on October 8th. I laughed at the contrast between my thirtieth birthday celebration-which included popping bottles and dancing on tables in the meatpacking district of New York City-and my fortieth birthday celebration. For the latter, I found myself ringing in the new decade with my new mom friends and our little toddlers—enjoying strawberry pancakes, in our pajamas at the cute house we rented in the middle of a Pennsylvania forest! And of course, there was a family dinner.

On this Throwback Thursday, I have reflected on the past and realized that the version of me in the photo above (age 33, celebrating my birthday in Italy on this day) lacked the insight, wisdom, confidence, and bravery to draw my line in the sand in this very public way. (Proof that we ladies only get better with age!)

What do I hope you’ll take away from all of this? That you need no one’s permission to follow your heart. That you should just do what you want,  stand up for what you think is right, and watch the good things that will follow.

I also wanted to mention that in addition to my reminiscing about Italy, another country I have been thinking of this week is, of course, Israel. My thoughts and prayers are with those in Israel and within the Jewish community who have suffered from the impact of these recent, tragic acts of terrorism.

With so much darkness in the world, I am committed to bringing love and light to humanity, and I have been exploring new channels for recruiting high-caliber singles for my relationship-oriented clients. 

I am now searching for a man who wants to find an (age-appropriate!) woman he loves more than….pizza!  In the greater NYC tri state area, to be exact. (I know. I know. Just trying to lighten the mood….)

I am hoping to find a handsome and successful Italian American-or at least Italian American looking- gentleman, as my beautiful and accomplished fifty-five year old female client just loves that type! I think mid-fifties to a youthful early sixties would be perfect—though she’d happily date a little younger for the right guy!

Have you “got a guy”? Are you this guy?

Please email [email protected] to learn more about the opportunity for a complimentary introduction to my incredible bachelorette.

Feel free to let me know what you think regarding ageism in today’s dating culture, how we could all just get along while doing what we want, what you’d like to take a stand on, or, umm, whatever your heart desires!